PFUHL, William Thomas
| Service Number: | 3861 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 August 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sturt, South Australia, 15 June 1887 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Haywards School |
| Occupation: | Plate Layer, Outer Harbour |
| Died: | Hit by a shell, Pozieres, France, 25 July 1916, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Australian Harbours Board WW1 Roll of Honour, Adelaide Commissioner of Public Works Roll of Honour, Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Birkenhead WW1 Harbors Board Employees Memorial, Marion District Roll of Honour WW1, Marion War Memorial, Mount Compass - Nangkita Districts Honour Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3861, 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Malwa embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 2 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3861, 10th Infantry Battalion, RMS Malwa, Adelaide |
from family information
Son of Ludwig Wilhelm Heinrich Pfuhl and Sarah Ann nee Edwards; Born on 15th June 1887 at Sturt SA. WW1 War record: Rank: Private [Pte] Service Number: 3861 Unit: 10th Bn Service: Army Conflict: 1914-1918 Date of Death: 25 July 1916 Cemetery or Memorial Details: 26 Villers Bretonneux-France Place Of Enlistment: Adelaide, SA
War Grave Register Notes: PFUHL, Pte. William Thomas, 3861. 10th Bn. 25th July, 1916. Age 30. Son of Louis William and Sarah Ann Pfuhl, of Mount Compass, South Australia. Born at Adelaide, South Australia. Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army Ship Name: RMS Malwa Date of embarkation: 2 December 1915 Place of embarkation: Adelaide
Submitted 27 April 2015 by Marcelle Edwards
Biography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Born on 15th June 1887 at Sturt, South Australia
Father Ludwig Wilhelm Heinrich (Louis William) Pfuhl and
Mother Sarah Ann Pfuhl (nee Edwards),
lived at Mount Compass, SA (1916 moved to Sturt, SA)
Fiancee: Lucy Pitman, lived at 125 Wakefield Street, Adelaide, SA
Cousin in service:
3136 Corporal Rudolph Victor Edelbert Roeger, 10th Infantry Battalion
16/06/1915 enlisted into WWI
14/09/1915 embarked Outer Habour onboard HMAT A70 Ballarat
as a Private with 10th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement
Last rank: Corporal with 10th Battalion
01/11/1917 returned to Australia
William was described on enlisting as 29 years 2 months of age; engaged;
164 lbs; fresh complexion; grey eyes; dark brown hair; Methodist; tattoos on
both upper arms
09/08/1915 enlisted in WWI
02/12/1915 embarked Outer Harbour, SA, onboard RMS Malwa
as a Private with 10th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement
29/03/1916 embarked to join British Expeditionary Forces, ex Alexandria
onboard HT Transylvania
04/04/1916 disembarked into Marseilles, France
17/05/1916 Proceeded to join 10th Infantry Battalion, Etaples, France
25/07/1916 hit by a shell, killed instantly at Pozieres, France
No known grave
02/07/1917 Cousin 3136 Corporal Rudolph V E Roeger stated:
"Pfuhl was in B.Company, 6th Platoon. His initials were Wm. T., and he
was my cousin. I saw his body lying in our communcation trench at
Pozieres on the eveing of 25th july 1916, about 5 pm daylight. He had
been killed by a shell; his body was quite recognisable. We held the
ground. I cannot say exactly where he was buried, but the Pioneers
were taking all bodies from the trenches and burying them in shell
holes at the side. I cannot say anthing definite. We were relieved
the same night by either the 17th, 16th or 19th Battalion, 2nd Division.
His body was lying in Black Watch Alley when I saw it."
His name is commemorated on:-
- the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
- Panel 60 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.
Medals: 1914/15 Star (4337); Brtiish War medal (26349); Victory medal (26170);
Memorial Plaque and Scroll (306126)
Submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 14/04/2017. Lest we forget.
Biography
"THE LATE PRIVATE W. T. PFUHL.
The late Private William T. Pfuhl who was killed in action on July 25, left South Australia on December 2, 1915. He was the eldest son of Mr. L. Pfuhl, of Mount Compass. Prior to enlisting he was employed at the Outer Harbor, and was well liked by all who knew him." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 02 Sep 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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